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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Time in music history ranging from the middle of the 16th to the middle of the 17th centuries. Characterized by emotional - flowery music; written in strict form.






2. String instruments that are picked instead of bowed.






3. Initially an improvised cadence by a soloist; later becoming an elaborate and written out passage in an aria or concerto - featuring the skills of an instrumentalist or vocalist.






4. The distance in pitch between two notes.






5. A short piano piece - often improvisational and intimate in character.






6. A complex piece of music. Usually the first movement of the piece serving as the exposition - a development - or recapitulation.






7. Combining a number of individual but harmonizing melodies. Also known as counterpoint.






8. A direction to play expressively.






9. First developed in the 8th century - methods of writing music.






10. A form of Italian opera beginning at the end of the 19th century. The setting is contemporary to the composer's own time - and the characters are modeled after every day life.






11. A curve over notes to indicate that a phrase is to be played legato.






12. Time in music history ranging from the middle of the 16th to the middle of the 17th centuries. Characterized by emotional - flowery music; written in strict form.






13. The study of forms - history - science - and methods of music.






14. A symbol in sheet music a direction to play energetically.






15. A book of text containing the words of an opera.






16. A period in history dating from the 14th to 16th centuries. This period signified the rebirth of music - art - and literature.






17. A short or brief sonata.






18. Refers to any great composer - conductor - or teacher of music.






19. A large group of instrumentalists playing together.






20. The expression the performer brings when playing his instrument.






21. The movement of chords in succession.






22. Music written to be sung or played in unison.






23. A musical scale having five notes.For example: the five black keys of a keyboard make up a pentatonic scale.






24. The voice between soprano and alto. Also - in sheet music - a direction for the tempo to be played at medium speed.






25. Passage for the entire ensemble or orchestra without a soloist.






26. A Boroque dance with a drone-bass.






27. A quick - improvisational - spirited piece of music.






28. Word to indicate the movement or entire composition is to be played very slow and serious.






29. Introduction to an opera or other large musical work.






30. The structure of a piece of music.






31. Refers to any great composer - conductor - or teacher of music.






32. Movement or passage that concludes the musical composition.






33. Pertaining to the loudness or softness of a musical composition. Also the symbols in sheet music indicating volume.






34. Elaborate polyphonic composition of the Boroque and Renaissance periods.






35. A repeated phrase.






36. Quick repetition of the same note or the rapid alternation between two notes.






37. Group of singers in a chorus.






38. A composition based on previous work. A common technique used in Medieval and Renaissance music.






39. A song of praise and glorification. Most often to honor God.






40. A group singing in unison.






41. Dull - monotonous tone such as a humming or buzzing sound. Also a bass note held under a melody.






42. A reprise.






43. A short light musical drama.






44. One or more vocalists performing without an accompaniment.






45. The frequency of a note determining how high or low it sounds.






46. A period in history dating from the 14th to 16th centuries. This period signified the rebirth of music - art - and literature.






47. The interval between two notes. Three whole tones and one semitone make up the distance between the two notes.






48. Unmusical - without tone.






49. A whole note is equal to 2 half notes - 4 quarter notes - 8 eighth notes - etc.






50. Harsh - discordant - and lack of harmony. Also a chord that sounds incomplete until it resolves itself on a harmonious chord.